Mailing envelope



Aug. 27, 1940. c, CRONAUER 2,212,587

MAILING ENVELOPE Filed July 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l A tiorne ys Aug. 27, 1940. c. CRONAUER MAILING ENVELOPE Filed July 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w H W M S Err m w m a A iiomeys Patented Aug. 27, 1 940 MAILING ENVELOPE Clarence Cronauer, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Application July'19, 1939, Serial No. 285,251

3 Claims.

This invention relates to envelopes for mailing purposes, and has for the primary objectthe provision of a safe, practical and inexpensive device of this character which due to its construction will be practically impossible to open without detection and has in combination therewith a return card to be detached from saidenvelope struction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter .more: fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following descripticn and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a rear elevation illustrating an envelope constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same prior to being sealed with the returncard located therein.

Figure 2 is a rear elevationillustratingthe sealing of the card to the envelope prior to the sealing of said envelope, also sealing the contents of the envelope against authorized removal.

Figure 3 is a rear elevationillustrating the envelope completely sealed and stapled with the card applied thereto,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line L4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation illustrating the en velope after the detachment of the. card there: from by the postman.

Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating the card.

Figure 7' is a rear elevation illustrating a modified form. or" my invention.

Figure 8 is a transverse SGCblOIlSlViGW illustrating another modification of my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the nu rneral 5 indicates an envelope having the customary end flaps 6, rear flap l and closure flap 8, g

the latter having adhesive applied thereto. The

flaps ii and l are secured'together as conventionclosure flap and is provided with adhesive 10 and is adapted to be inserted through a slot ll provided in the flap 1 to adhere tothe contents of the envelope and for the purpose of securing to the latter a return card i2.

The return card is preferably in the .form of a postal card bearing certain indicia such as return to the sender on one face thereof and. on the opposite face delivery assured from the receiver of the envelope. Formed on edge of the card is a tongue it provided with a slot [4 through which the tongue 9 may be inserted prior to being inserted in the slot ii of the envelope or flap "2 thereof. The connection between the card 52 and the tongue it is by perforated or weakened portions it so that the card may be easily detached from the card 13. The flap 7 is provided with diagonally arranged slots I6 which will permit opposite corners of the card to be inserted in the envelope and which coaots with the tongue 9 in firmly anchoring the card onto the exterior of the envelope so that its removal can be easily carried out by the postman on the delivery of the envelope to the person or delivery thereof the card is remailed to the engagement with the flaps 6 and l and sealed 2 thereto. After the sealing operation has been completed staples it may be passed through the closure flap 8, flaps t and l, as shown in Figure 3, further assuring against unauthorized opening of the envelope without detection.

It is to be understood that the card IE will bear a postage stamp which may be canceled at the time of the sale of the card with the envelope to. obviate the necessity of canceling the stamp on the card when the latter is mailed by the postman. Of course, this canceling of the stamp may be deferred until the time the card is remailed if so desired by the postal authorities.

7 By referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that the card after being removed from the envelope leaves the latter completely sealed and intact in every respect so that the envelope must be opened by the receiver on the delivery thereof by the postman.

Referring to my modified form of the invention, as shown in Figure 7, the envelope is indicated by the character it and its construction is substantially similar to the envelope except the sealing flap l9 thereof is larger to overlie to a greater extent the rear flap of the envelope,

the latter having a series of slots through which tongues 21% struck from the closure flap l9 may be inserted.

It is to be understood that the envelope i8 is otherwise constructed in accordance with the envelope 5 and is adapted to have the cards used in combination therewith.

As shown in Figure 8 the tongue of the envelope may be simply passed through the slot of the card l2 and secured to the outside of the envelope.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such device relates, so that further detailed vdescription will not be required.

. I-Iavingthus described my invention, What I claim is: T

1. In a device of the character set forth, an envelope including a closure flap, said envelope having a slot in the Wall thereof, a sealing tongue formedon the closure fiap' and partly free thereof for insertion through the slot and having adhesive thereon to seal with the contents of the envelope, a return card having a slot to receive velope, a return card adapted to have opposite corners thereof inserted in certain slots of the envelope and provided with an extension connected thereto by a weakened line and having a slot through which the tongue may pass prior to entering said envelope coacting with the other slots of the envelopein securing the card to the envelope for removal by the postman on the delivery of the envelope and permit the remailing of the card to the sender.

3. An envelope including a plurality of flaps with slots in certain of said flaps and a sealing tongue carried by one of said flaps to be inserted through one of the slots, 21. card to enter the other slots at the corners thereof and having a slot and a weakened portion, said last-named slot adapted to receive the tongue prior to its insertion in the slot of the envelope, and staples extending through the flaps of the envelope.

1 CLARENCE CRONAUER. 

